Rustic Wedding Symphony, Op. 26 (Ländliche Hochzeit) is a symphony in E-flat major by Karl Goldmark, written in 1875,[1] a year before his renowned Violin Concerto No. 1. The symphony was premiered in Vienna on 5 March 1876, conducted by Hans Richter.[2]Johannes Brahms, who was a frequent walking companion of Goldmark's, and whose own Symphony No. 1 was not premiered until November 1876, told him "That is the best thing you have done; clear-cut and faultless, it sprang into being a finished thing, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter".[3] Its first American performance was at a New York Philharmonic Society concert, conducted by Theodore Thomas on 13 January 1877.[3]
The work does not conform to the standard structure of a symphony, and it could just be named a Suite. It is in five movements rather than the usual four, which is same as Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and Schumann's Rhenish Symphony.[4] It is full of Central European charm, joviality and good humour. While Goldmark did not provide any specific program for the work, he did give each of the movements titles suggestive of aspects of a wedding in the countryside.
Hochzeitsmarsch. Variationen
The first movement is a Wedding March (Hochzeitsmarsch) followed by a set of 13 variations. While variations are commonly found in symphonies, it is most unusual for them to appear in the first movement. The variations offer constant changes of tempo, meter, rhythm, mood and harmony, and display his fine craftsmanship.[3]
The theme of the March is reminiscent of Adeste Fideles, and is stated by cellos and basses in octaves.
Variation 1 is played in horns, clarinets and flutes
Variation 2, Poco animato, introduces the violins
Variation 3, full orchestra
Variation 4, Andante con moto, B flat minor, the theme played by the violins
Variation 5, Allegretto, basses, bassoons and horns
Variation 6, Allegro vivace, horns, bassoons, flutes and violins
Variation 7 involves part writing, again in a minor key
Variation 8, Allegro scherzando, strings, flutes, oboes and clarinets
Variation 9, minor key, basses, violins and flutes
Variation 10, Molto vivace, violins with other strings pizzicato
Variation 11, Andante con moto, violins, oboe and clarinet
Variation 12, Moderato, a new melody based on the original theme, oboe, bassoon, viola and two violins
Variation 13, after a brief fanfare, the original theme is played in the original tempo, but with the full orchestra, and then ends quietly.[5]
Brautlied. Intermezzo
The second movement is a Bridal Song (Brautlied).
Serenade. Scherzo
The third movement, Serenade, opens with a theme played by two oboes, later developed by the strings.[5] It includes an imitation of bagpipes, played on oboe, clarinet, bassoon and cellos.:
Im Garten. Andante
The fourth movement, In the Garden (Im Garten), is slow and lyrical, its middle section moving to E-flat minor.
Tanz. Finale
The finale, Dance, is the only movement of the work written in sonata form. It opens with a fugue.[6] The Garden theme briefly reappears, before the Dance returns to end the movement rousingly.
rustic, wedding, symphony, ländliche, hochzeit, symphony, flat, major, karl, goldmark, written, 1875, year, before, renowned, violin, concerto, symphony, premiered, vienna, march, 1876, conducted, hans, richter, johannes, brahms, frequent, walking, companion, . Rustic Wedding Symphony Op 26 Landliche Hochzeit is a symphony in E flat major by Karl Goldmark written in 1875 1 a year before his renowned Violin Concerto No 1 The symphony was premiered in Vienna on 5 March 1876 conducted by Hans Richter 2 Johannes Brahms who was a frequent walking companion of Goldmark s and whose own Symphony No 1 was not premiered until November 1876 told him That is the best thing you have done clear cut and faultless it sprang into being a finished thing like Minerva from the head of Jupiter 3 Its first American performance was at a New York Philharmonic Society concert conducted by Theodore Thomas on 13 January 1877 3 Contents 1 Structure 2 Reception 3 References 4 External links 5 SourcesStructure editThe work does not conform to the standard structure of a symphony and it could just be named a Suite It is in five movements rather than the usual four which is same as Beethoven s Pastoral Symphony Berlioz s Symphonie fantastique and Schumann s Rhenish Symphony 4 It is full of Central European charm joviality and good humour While Goldmark did not provide any specific program for the work he did give each of the movements titles suggestive of aspects of a wedding in the countryside Hochzeitsmarsch Variationen The first movement is a Wedding March Hochzeitsmarsch followed by a set of 13 variations While variations are commonly found in symphonies it is most unusual for them to appear in the first movement The variations offer constant changes of tempo meter rhythm mood and harmony and display his fine craftsmanship 3 The theme of the March is reminiscent of Adeste Fideles and is stated by cellos and basses in octaves Variation 1 is played in horns clarinets and flutes Variation 2 Poco animato introduces the violins Variation 3 full orchestra Variation 4 Andante con moto B flat minor the theme played by the violins Variation 5 Allegretto basses bassoons and horns Variation 6 Allegro vivace horns bassoons flutes and violins Variation 7 involves part writing again in a minor key Variation 8 Allegro scherzando strings flutes oboes and clarinets Variation 9 minor key basses violins and flutes Variation 10 Molto vivace violins with other strings pizzicato Variation 11 Andante con moto violins oboe and clarinet Variation 12 Moderato a new melody based on the original theme oboe bassoon viola and two violins Variation 13 after a brief fanfare the original theme is played in the original tempo but with the full orchestra and then ends quietly 5 nbsp Brautlied Intermezzo The second movement is a Bridal Song Brautlied nbsp Serenade Scherzo The third movement Serenade opens with a theme played by two oboes later developed by the strings 5 It includes an imitation of bagpipes played on oboe clarinet bassoon and cellos nbsp Im Garten Andante The fourth movement In the Garden Im Garten is slow and lyrical its middle section moving to E flat minor nbsp Tanz Finale The finale Dance is the only movement of the work written in sonata form It opens with a fugue 6 The Garden theme briefly reappears before the Dance returns to end the movement rousingly nbsp Reception editThe Rustic Wedding Symphony was a favourite of conductors such as Thomas Beecham 7 and Leonard Bernstein 8 It has been recorded a number of times by conductors such as Beecham Bernstein Andre Previn Maurice Abravanel Jesus Lopez Cobos Yondani Butt and Stephen Gunzenhauser References edit David Ewen Music for the Millions The Encyclopedia of Musical Masterpieces The Free Dictionary a b c Joseph Braunstein notes to Abravanel recording Michael Talbot The Finale in Western Instrumental Music a b Anne Shaw Faulkner What We Hear in Music Raymond Tuttle Notes to Decca recording classical source com Harriet Cunningham review of Sydney Symphony performance Sydney Morning Herald 17 March 2008External links editRustic Wedding Symphony Scores at the International Music Score Library ProjectSources editEthan Mordden A Guide to Orchestral Music David Ewen Music for the Millions The Encyclopedia of Musical Masterpieces Raymond Monelle The Musical Topic Portal nbsp Classical Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rustic Wedding Symphony amp oldid 1201466670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
